March 13, 2011 6:21 PM

Obama calls for agreement on gun reform laws

By
Lucy Madison
Topics
Domestic Issues ,
Obama Administration
(Credit: CBS/iStockphoto)

In his first public comments about gun control since Arizona's mass shootings in January, President Obama on Sunday called for "agreement" on the divisive issue of gun reform laws, and urged the implementation of "sound and effective steps" that would minimize gun violence in the United States.

In an op-ed for the Arizona Daily Star, the president emphasized his support for the right of Americans to bear arms - but emphasized the need to keep the "irresponsible, law-breaking few from getting their hands on a gun in the first place."

"I'm willing to bet they don't think that using a gun and using common sense are incompatible ideas - that we should check someone's criminal record before he can check out at a gun seller; that an unbalanced man shouldn't be able to buy a gun so easily; that there's room for us to have reasonable laws that uphold liberty, ensure citizen safety and are fully compatible with a robust Second Amendment," wrote Mr. Obama, of "responsible, law-abiding gun owners."

Using as an example January's shootings in Arizona, in which six people were killed and 13 - including Ariz. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords - were wounded, Mr. Obama pushed for a series of reforms that would, he argued, prevent "dangerous criminals and fugitives" from legally obtaining a gun.

With an emphasis on strengthening already existing regulations - particularly in regard to the streamlining and implementation of background checks - Mr. Obama outlined a set of guidelines he posited would allow America "to have reasonable laws that uphold liberty, ensure citizen safety and are fully compatible with a robust Second Amendment."

"We should begin by enforcing laws that are already on the books," he wrote. "The National Instant Criminal Background Check System is the filter that's supposed to stop the wrong people from getting their hands on a gun. Bipartisan legislation four years ago was supposed to strengthen this system, but it hasn't been properly implemented. It relies on data supplied by states - but that data is often incomplete and inadequate. We must do better."

Mr. Obama suggested that states should be provided with incentives to provide comprehensive background data. He also argued that the system in general must be "faster and nimbler."

"We should provide an instant, accurate, comprehensive and consistent system for background checks to sellers who want to do the right thing, and make sure that criminals can't escape it," he said.

Acknowledging the contentious nature of the topic, Mr. Obama pressed Americans to "get beyond wedge issues and stale political debates to find a sensible, intelligent way to make the United States of America a safer, stronger place."

"I know some aren't interested in participating," he wrote. "Some will say that anything short of the most sweeping anti-gun legislation is a capitulation to the gun lobby. Others will predictably cast any discussion as the opening salvo in a wild-eyed scheme to take away everybody's guns... But I have more faith in the American people than that."

"We owe the victims of the tragedy in Tucson and the countless unheralded tragedies each year nothing less than our best efforts - to seek consensus, to prevent future bloodshed, to forge a nation worthy of our children's futures," he wrote.

The bipartisan Mayors Against Illegal Guns coalition issued a release in support of  Mr. Obama's gun stance: 

Today, President Obama signaled he has heard the message of more than 550 mayors - Republicans, Democrats, and independents - who support common-sense reform of our broken gun background check system. Our coalition of Mayors Against Illegal Guns has proposed a straightforward plan to fix the problem the President discussed: people who are legally prohibited from owning guns can easily buy them. First, we must ensure that all records of prohibited purchasers like criminals, drug abusers, domestic violence offenders and the seriously mentally ill are in the federal background check system. Second, we should make sure every gun seller performs a simple background check.

 


Add a Comment See all 103 Comments
by guysdigdirt March 15, 2011 12:02 AM EDT
The guns the Mexican cartells use have been documented by law enforcement to contain about 2% from America. The rest come from corrupt Mexican govt agencies or overseas. The media would have you believe otherwise, and you can make anyting seem real with a video, the movies do it all the time.
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by guysdigdirt March 14, 2011 11:59 PM EDT
OH, how either misinformed, ignorant or dihonest you are. There have been a number of Senators and other politicians who have said either the exact words, or something along the line of "If I could get the necessary votes I would say to America 'Turn in your guns, right now". The gun-safety groups have changed thier names from "Gun-control groups" to hide what their true intent is. Bllomberg has broken laws and rules and mislead many a mayor in order to prosecute lawful gun dealers and owners and would like to take away every gun that exists in America.

Get educated about this topic, it is not as easy as you might think. I am not saying you are uneducated in general, but if you think there are not politicians who would take away the guns tomorrow if they could then you are not paying attention.
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by Doom_of_You March 14, 2011 4:47 PM EDT
Well SmartPeopleRule, intellects such as you self are not above scrutany, unfortunatly for you. You may just find your self standing in front of the line waiting your turn at the lazor incineration chamber because you are too smart. The books you love to read so much(the ones that made you so smart?) will they be in your back pack to insure that they are burned up as well? The religious books of course must go first because ("americians cling to thier guns and religeon"/Obama quote) I am not a super hero (thanks for the complement though), I am a person whom loves this country and I am sad to see that the obvious and blaitent corrupton in our government go's unchecked because smart people such as yourself are not vigilant enough to see that a right is a right and not a privilage. Perhaps when they decide that your privilage to live is inconvenient because your are so smart, you will cry out for your right to life, liberty and the persuit of happieness to be recognised, you might come to apreciate the second amendment at that time. Just as we are enjoying the first amendment here, unless you want to burdan the first amendment so we can't speak freely?
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by Doom_of_You March 14, 2011 3:31 PM EDT
Dear Libratards and other idiots,
When they come for your gay son, your mentally challanged daughter, your frail old grandmother, Oh and lets not forget about that nutty christian brother-in-law of yours that you laugh so much about, hehehe... When they come to take them to the lazor incinerators to despose of these obsolite and of no use undesireables (Future tense of course) you might start to figure out what the second amendment is really all about (but it will be to late of course). The Obama administration has done nothing to bring this country togeather (HOPE and CHANGE? What a JOKE!), in fact HE has divided it even more than ever, this hate is being be used as a catalist to take ALL of our RIGHTS AWAY!(and you thought that you were immune, tsk,tsk,tsk). You think this is crazy of course because you think in terms of your own arrogent self-rightesness. You are all DOOMED! You are ALL FOOLS! I laugh at your ignorence and the lack of historic memmory on your part(government schools don't teach much on this, not your fault?). When this inevitable day arrives may you weep and understand that your own blood is on your own hands.
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by Doom_of_You March 14, 2011 4:10 PM EDT
Well SmartPeopleRule, unfortunatly for you, intellectuals such as yourself are not above scrutany, you too face the lazor-chambers as well, along with your books that you love and charish so much (that make you so smart?)
First religous books must be destroyed of course,("americians cling to their guns and religeon"/Obama quote). I am not a super hero, I am just sad to see the country that I love so much fall into this obvious state of decline where government has become so corrupt and the people so incapacitated (smart people like you) to the point that they can't see the enemy at the gates.
by Sloughfoot March 14, 2011 2:40 PM EDT
Obama, your ATF and your AG's office has embarked upon one of the great tragidies of Crime in the Americas by arming the Mexican Drug Cartel in an effort to scew the numbers game and proclaim all these American imported guns in Mexico to be the result of lax firearms laws in America. The jig is up bro, you've been exposed, to now attempt to hoodwink America with your failed ploy is just downright criminal. Gees mister, with the like of Christy, and the Michigan Gadaffi being heralded as saints for the GOP I was just starting to like you. Palin, where are you, darn never thought I'd say that.
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by PISTOL_PETE13 March 14, 2011 12:38 PM EDT
You may not have any of my guns; but you may have all of my bullets.

LIBERALS; in order to confiscate firearms; we on the right aim to turn you into swiss cheese in the process....
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by RSorge March 14, 2011 11:40 PM EDT
Petey forgot to take his meds today! Let's hope he stays indoors (tho his family might be in danger).
by ken1dall March 14, 2011 12:25 PM EDT
I think we should do more background checks on democrats. They should all be registered and their drug use, mental stability, domestic abuse records, voting records, sexual orientation, views on green house gas emissions, immigration status, etc. should be readily available to the state and federal governments so they can be properly assessed as to whether or not they should be allowed firearm ownership and then be properly certified and licensed.
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by jackp32 March 14, 2011 11:02 AM EDT
I recently purchased a handgun and had to complete quite a process beforehand. No complaints you see. I first obtained a State Firearms License and completed an extensive application and fingerprinting. At the gun store, I completed another extensive application. I had to show my firearms license and the clerk proceeded to call the probate office to make sure my license was valid and was not cancelled. Of my own choosing, I then completed a personal defense and firearms handling course for 6 hrs. What else do you want me to do, Mr. President?
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by jimbom121 March 14, 2011 12:01 PM EDT
Nothing...that is his point. You went through a comprehensive background check.

The point, is that there are people who obtains guns without one, or who should not be able to purchase one.
by Philo_Bedo March 14, 2011 9:17 AM EDT
Apparently BHObammy and his crew don't know, (or more likely don't care) about the fact that this dirtbag didn't have anything in his background that would have kept him from buying a gun.

Gun's don't kill people. People kill people. Does anyone with two brain cells in their coconut really think this guy would have been like, "Oh hey, I can't legally buy a gun, so I guess I won't go shoot all these people..."???
Reply to this comment
by jimbom121 March 14, 2011 12:02 PM EDT
You are right, people kill people, but if they have easy access to guns, its easier for them to kill other people.
by catmomtx March 14, 2011 10:10 PM EDT
Right, people kill people and judging from some of the comments here, they should either ban guns or crazy, intolerant people.
by Riverjump March 14, 2011 8:22 AM EDT
This topic was bound to come up. There are plenty of verifications in place to insure that only law-abiding citizens are able to exercise their 2nd amenment rights. The key words are law and abiding. Criminals will always get a piece if they want one. Hell, pot is illegal - think you can't go to your local park and get a lid? Yes I do own weapons. Hunting and self defense.
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